All posts by Tyler Plunkett

There are many reasons why the team at Bradshaw Automotive loves calling Greer, South Carolina our home. We love its proximity to gorgeous national forests like Chattahoochee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest, we love its friendly population, and this time of year we really love the Holiday spirit. One thing we always look forward to is the annual Greer Christmas Parade.

Christmas Theme

Each year, the Greer Christmas Parade chooses a theme for its celebrations. This year’s parade theme is “Christmas at the Movies.” Participants are encouraged to dress as the characters from classic Christmas films like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Home Alone,” “Elf,” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

When

The 1.1-mile parade will start at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 3, 2017. Participants such as local clubs, various organizations, and businesses will line up their festive floats. Marching bands, cheerleaders, and beauty queens will help to amp up the Holiday spirit. Bring the whole family and enjoy spotting your favorite, familiar, Christmas movie characters, like Snoopy, Rudolph, and the abominable snowman. The Greer Christmas Parade changes every year, but it always promises to be a new and exciting way to welcome in the Holiday season with family and friends. Get into the spirit of the season this year in Greer.

In just a few short weeks, families all across the country will be climbing into the car to head out on the annual Thanksgiving road trip. If this is what you have planned for your family this year, you will need some Thanksgiving road trip games to keep everyone occupied.

Karaoke.

Plan ahead and let everyone pick out a few of their favorite songs to add to a playlist or burned CD before you leave. Then, each person has to sing along to their songs in their own special way—most dramatic, loudest, and so on.

Two truths and a lie.

Each person says three things about themselves, except one of them is a lie. Everyone else has to guess which one is the lie.

Alphabet game.

This game is good for younger kids. Everyone looks at road signs, license plates, billboards, etc. to find each letter of the alphabet in order.

Picnic.

This game is a good test of everyone’s memory. The first person starts out by saying, “I’m going on a picnic and I’m going to take…” and then they name something that starts with A. The next person says the same thing and then adds to the list with the next letter. If you can’t remember the list, you lose.

If your car is in need of attention before you hit the road, or it is time for something new, come visit us at Bradshaw Automotive.

Now that November is here, winter weather is right around the corner. That means now is the time to prepare before the icy weather arrives, which it will, even here in South Carolina. Here are a few tips for winter car care.

Lights

As the days get shorter, you will be using your headlights more often. Make sure all of your exterior lights are working and angled correctly. In addition, if there is snow on your car, brush off your lights before you start driving.

Antifreeze

This fluid is immensely important in the winter as it keeps your engine from freezing. Make sure your antifreeze level isn’t low and there are no leaks.

Gas

To prevent your fuel lines from freezing or to make sure you don’t run out of gas when stuck on the side of the road, keep your gas tank as full as you can.

HVAC

On cold, frosty winter mornings, you will want your heater. Make sure it and your air conditioning still work. Your A/C helps keep your windows clear of fog.

Tires

Make sure your tires have adequate tread depth. And, if you live in an area that routinely has winter weather below 45 degrees, consider switching to winter tires.

If you need any help with your winter car care, schedule a service appointment here at Bradshaw Automotive.

Chevrolet and the Detroit Red Wings are a perfect match. Both are based in the Motor City and share the same commitment to innovation and excellence. So, it was a no-brainer when Chevrolet became the official vehicle of the Detroit Red Wings hockey team in 2015. Chevrolet has stepped up their support of their home team, though, with a new Wheels and Wings statue at the team’s new home: Little Caesars Arena.

Set to be permanently displayed at the arena’s northeast entrance, Chevrolet’s “Wheels and Wings” is a celebration of tradition, strength, unity, and invention.

The Statue

Measuring 9-feet 5-inches tall, the sculpture makes a bold statement at the entrance of the new arena. The massive work of art was crafted by former motorcycle stunt rider Tomas Vitanovsky and is partially constructed from disused Chevrolet parts, including a hubcap from 1918. The statue joins the old with the new, and you’ll also find parts from the 2018 Suburban, Tahoe, and Spark, the 2009 Kodiak, the 1996 Caprice, and more.

The Making

Vitanovsky, a Czech Republic native, worked more than 700 hours creating the stunning industrial statue and used 186 parts from various Chevrolet vehicles. The result is a breathtaking work of art that pays proper tribute to an excellent team, an incredible community, and an innovative automaker.

To learn more about Chevrolet’s ongoing commitment to excellence, come by Bradshaw Automotive today and take a test drive!

So you’ve already decorated your home, finished the kids’ costumes, and loaded up on candy to hand out to excited trick or treaters. You forgot one thing though: a costume for your car! Don’t panic. Check out these easy car costume ideas to really step up your game this Halloween.

Scary Teeth

A great car costume doesn’t have to be complicated in order to be spooky. If your car has a trunk, craft teeth out of paper or cardboard and attach them to transform your vehicle into a scary monster with a ferocious bite.

Nerd Glasses

Halloween is all about being someone else for a night. While the Buick Encore is the model of refinement and sophistication, a pair of oversized glasses makes this smart SUV hilariously nerdy.

Eye Lashes

If you’re on a time crunch, no car costume is simpler than attaching some headlamp eyelashes. Throw these on a Chevrolet Equinox for a funny, flirty car costume.

Carriage

Fashion carriage wheels to fit over your vehicles wheel openings and end up with a rustic car costume perfect for pickups. Slap four of these on a GMC Sierra to create a carriage for any Halloween princess or knight.

Who says dress up is for children? Rediscover the fun of playing pretend this Halloween with one of these car costume ideas. And for the perfect car to dress up, stop by Bradshaw Automotive today!

Oktoberfest Festival in Greer, SC

At Bradshaw Automotive, we love being located in Greer, SC. We’re close to the beach, close to the mountains, and surrounded by nice folks. Plus, there’s always something going on in the area, like the upcoming Oktoberfest Festival in Greer, SC.

The popular annual Countybank Greer Station Oktoberfest will be held this year on October 21, 2017. It’s everything that any experienced festival attendee would expect from a solid Oktoberfest—deliciously bubbly German beer, a mouth-watering menu of German foods and desserts, and fun live entertainment. Pick up a beer from Warsteiner, Germany’s largest privately-owned brewery, and then fill up on fresh pretzels, bratwursts, kettle corn, Black forest cake, and much more. With that in mind, be sure to come hungry!

The Greer, SC festival will feature a performance by German oompah bands, but it will also showcase non-German artwork from local artists. You’ll find local vendors selling anything from handmade jewelry to oil paintings and photography. It’s the perfect setting to get an early start on your Christmas shopping and support the local community at the same time.

The Oktoberfest in Greer, SC is sure to be an excellent time as always. Become a sponsor, volunteer, or just head over with friends and family for a fun day of food, art, and plenty of culture.

2018 Buick Regal GS Makes World Debut

There are some pretty big, pretty cool changes happening for the upcoming 2018 Buick Regal. This mid-size sedan has received a complete makeover. The standard four-door Regal sedan says goodbye, as it’s replaced by a sportier, hatch-styled Regal Sportback and a crossover wagon Regal TourX.

Standing hand-in-hand with the Buick Sportback is the 2018 Buick Regal GS, which makes its world debut this year. It’s a sleek, impressively advanced sport sedan that’s made to combine the best in modern utility and thrilling performance. It’s ok to take the 2018 Buick Regal GS on your daily commute, but it’s also ok to have a little fun with it, too.

The 2018 Buick Regal GS features a new V6 engine that produces 310 horsepower and gets paired with a nine-speed transmission and intelligent all-wheel drive. Its sleek, aerodynamic five-door silhouette is as useful as it is stylish. The attractive appearance is enhanced with details like standard 19-inch wheels and a rear spoiler. Standard Brembo brakes round out a powerful performance with extra responsive handling.

The 2018 Buick Regal Sportback and GS will arrive at dealerships like Bradshaw Automotive late this year. Be sure to check in and take this high-performance Buick out for an unforgettable test drive once it arrives out on our lot.

Visiting a state park is a great way to experience nature at its finest. We here at Bradshaw Automotive know of a few South Carolina State Parks that are worth visiting this summer season.

Conagree National Park

Conagree National Park is known for its massive hardwood forest and sweeping waters. The Conagree and Wateree Rivers meet and carry much-needed nutrients throughout the floodplain. The park is home to a number of fun, family-friendly activities. Hiking trails and camping sites are two activities that visitors love. Canoeing and fishing are on the list as well.

Sesquicentennial South Carolina State Parks

There are few parks as welcoming to families and nature lovers as Sesquicentennial State Park. The park is home to a 30-acre lake that allows fishing and canoeing. Visitors can rent fishing and pedal boats for an afternoon of fun.

The park also features a small gift shop, picnic shelters, multiple playgrounds, and more. Bird watchers will find that the number of bird species and available hiking trails make Sesquicentennial State Park a great place to spend the day.

Table Rock State Park

Table Rock State Park holds a tremendous amount of scenic areas through its 3,000 acres. The hiking trails lead to the 80-mile-long Foothills Trail. Hikers will enjoy the sound of mountain streams and the roar of waterfalls as they travel through nature. The state park is also home to a number of cabins and other fascinating structures.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of local festivals that take place throughout South Carolina every year. This year’s Railfest in Greer looks to be one of the most unique and exciting of them all. The festival puts an emphasis on trains and rail safety. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of trains, the 2017 Railfest in Greer is bound to be a blast!

The Second Annual Railfest takes place at Greer City Park on Saturday, September 30th. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free to all who wish to attend. During the festival, Operation Livesaver will put on rail safety presentations.

Train enthusiasts and transportation lovers will enjoy the sheer sight of trackless trains, model trains, and much more. The local rail police and museums will even have interactive displays suited for fans both young and old

Videos about locomotive history will offer a closer look at one of the world’s earlier forms of transportation. As though that isn’t reason enough to attend, kids and adults alike can win prizes that include train rides and model trains,

We’re all about transportation here at Bradshaw Automotive, so we hope to see you at the 2017 Railfest this September!

Now that summer is here, it’s the perfect time to hit the road with your family and enjoy the great outdoors. There’s no better camping vehicle than the GMC Sierra 1500, which has a range of compatible camping accessories that will make your trip more convenient and fun.

Truck Tent

One of the most exciting GMC Sierra camping accessories is the truck tent. Truck tents let you set up a tent over your truck bed, so you can sleep off the hard, rocky ground and in the comfort of you Sierra while still being protected from the elements. Throw an air mattress in and you’ll be amazed at the comfort and convenience your Sierra offers. Plus, truck tents are easier to set up than normal tents.

Trailer Hitch

Another great feature the Sierra offers is a trailer hitch. If you’re going to be near a lake, use the Sierra trailer hitch to hook up your boat and tow it with ease, or attach a camper for you and the family to sleep and eat in on the road while you travel across the country. The Sierra is the perfect vehicle for towing heavy loads thanks to its incredibly powerful engine and smart design.

For more information about the GMC Sierra and the many camping-friendly accessories, you can add onto it, give us a call at Bradshaw Automotive.